Stuart will lead a hands on workshop at the EGTA conference as part of the joint EGTA/ESTA afternoon at Queen Margaret’s School Escrick. There will be a chance to play both traditional Irish music and the music of Piazzolla and Stuart will talk about arranging for strings and guitar and encouraging young players to get involved in the folk tradition. Bring your instrument, acoustic or classical guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, violin, viola and cello all welcome.
Stuart has a wealth of experience as a somewhat eclectic musician, including orchestral, chamber and solo work and playing in Irish and pop bands. Hailing from Essex, he studied violin and viola at Colchester Institute and Trinity College, London and gained a PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University. After touring with an opera company, he joined the teaching staff of Kirklees Music School. He is currently Assistant Head of Bolton Music Service.
Stuart is the conductor of the Bolton Youth Symphony Orchestra, director of the Yorkshire Late Starters Strings and tutor of the Greater Manchester Youth String Orchestra at Chetham’s. Pursuing his passion for new music, he was the founding Musical Director for CoMA Leeds and CoMA West Midlands, remaining a regular tutor on the CoMA Summer School. Stuart has also worked as a conductor for Leeds College of Music.
Stuart devotes a great deal of time to string teaching and coaching. He organises and delivers workshops on INSET days. He has also run summer schools and workshops for young string players and regularly mentors teachers and students. He has designed and introduced Schemes of Work across a number of Local Authorities. He has also run a number of local Music Centres.
Stuart is a trustee of the European String Teachers’ Association (ESTA), enabling him to facilitate the highest quality CPD for string teachers and the ongoing sharing of teaching methods, ideas and resources amongst string teachers both private and peripatetic, thus benefitting students of all ages, abilities and background.